8 Things You Will Love About The Diamond Horseshoe at Walt Disney World

The Diamond Horseshoe is an odd little Disney World restaurant in that it can’t quite figure out what it wants to be. That said, the newest incarnation of this nostalgic eatery is quite nice, and we do hope it’ll stick around for a bit. Sure, the current hours are purely seasonal, but seasonal hours are better than none at all. Besides, since the restaurant tends to be open during the busiest times of year, it’s a great tool for relieving traffic congestion while giving guests a chance to cool off and escape the hustle and bustle. Wondering what there is to like at the newest edition of The Diamond Horseshoe? Read on!

1. Delicious Menu

Let’s begin with the menu. If you like barbecue and you find yourself in Magic Kingdom, this is the place for you. The menu is loaded with lots of barbecue meat options as well as some seriously delicious sides. We especially love the watermelon salad, which incorporates tomatoes and cucumbers, and the jalapeño cornbread is also amazing. Of course, the corn fritters are amazing as well, and choosing between the two types of cornbread can feel nearly impossible. Finally, we must mention the Peaches and Cream Cheesecake, which is decadent and delicious while still being refreshing on a hot Florida day. All in all, you’ll definitely leave with happy taste buds after eating at The Diamond Horseshoe.

2. Family-Style or À La Carte

In addition to the fact that this eatery boasts a fabulous menu, it is also worth noting that there are two types of dining experiences available. The first is the traditional à la carte menu which allows diners to order only what they want, but limits them to just one serving. This option is currently only available during lunchtime, and is best for lighter eaters or those who don’t feel the need to try a number of items. A second option is to order the all-you-can-eat family-style meal. This meal includes servings of practically everything on the menu and is brought out on platters, which each family member can serve themselves from. As mentioned before, this meal is also all-you-can-eat, meaning you’ll definitely leave full.

3. Small and Intimate

Many of the restaurants in Disney World are quite large and bustling, meaning the hustle-and-bustle of the parks follows you right to your table. This eatery is different in that it’s a smaller space with far fewer tables. Additionally, the tables are nicely spread out around the room, meaning you have privacy and a bit of room to breathe. This is a hugely welcome relief to many park goers, and certainly makes a meal at The Diamond Horseshoe seem appealing.

4. Lovely Setting

Besides being small and intimate, the Diamond Horseshoe also has a lovely setting with a well-done western theme. The space features a lovely stage with a piano that plays itself from time to time, as well as awesome lighting fixtures that really add to the theme. While the building isn’t anything fancy, it definitely stays true to its theme and its roots, and we love that!

5. Reasonable Prices

While many table-service eateries in the Disney parks will quickly break the bank, this isn’t one of them. The Diamond Horseshoe has some of the most affordable table-service food out there, making it the ideal place to eat for anyone who is paying for meals out-of-pocket. That said, if you’re on the Dining Plan, you may want to think twice before using a meal credit here. Instead, pay out of pocket and use your credits elsewhere in order to get more bang for your buck.

6. Various Seating Levels

A feature that many visitors get a kick out of is the second- and third-level seating. Because the space is rather small, these additional levels allow a few more people to dine at this location without causing it to feel crowded or overwhelming. If you happen to have a seat in one of the upper stories, you’ll be treated to fun views of the diners and piano down below. This is especially entertaining to young children, but many adults find it novel as well.

7. Unique Experience

Because The Diamond Horseshoe is a seasonal restaurant, many people don’t even know it exists, and many more have never eaten there. For this reason, choosing to eat at this food stop will give you a relatively unique experience that not many others can say they’ve had. Those who go to Disney World fairly often and have tried many other restaurants will find this fact especially nifty. However, it’s a fun addition to any trip, even for those who are Disney newbies.

8. Easy to Reserve

Last but not least, we love that this restaurant is relatively easy to reserve. This is probably due to the fact that not many people even know the place exists, or they don’t know that it’s now open once again. In any case, the ability to snag last-minute reservations and have a tasty table-service meal without much forethought is definitely a nice change of pace.